Scientists warn that one-fifth of the species are going to slide to extinction

New York, Oct 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A recent stocktaking has revealed that up to a fifth of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles species are under threat of extinction.

Not surprisingly fingers are being pointed on humans for the gradual extinction of those species.

The fact is that more animals with backbones or vertebrates are disappearing fast and scientists estimate that the more wildlife animals are disappearing at a rate not seen before since the extinction of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago.

The UN has met with world leaders in the Japanese town of Nagoya to discuss ways to halt the rate of extinction.

The data is provided by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and it reveals that 25 percent of all mammals or animals that give birth to live babies are threatened with extinction.

Other species that are also threatened are birds, reptiles and amphibians. The data also showed that 33 percent of a group of fish called cartilaginous fish was also in danger of extinction. The cartilaginous fish are the kind of fish with cartilage skeletons like sharks and rays.

If measures are not taken fast to protect the endangered species, iconic species like polar bear, panda and tigers among others will all disappear in what scientists call the “sixth mass extinction” in the history of the world.